PRIME Minister Sir Michael Somare has not resumed official duties after serving his 14-day suspension, which ended yesterday, The National reports. Sir Michael was suspended by a leadership tribunal after being found guilty of official misconduct. He had failed to file his annual returns to the Ombudsman’s Commission.
The suspension began on April 4 and ended last Friday. He was to have returned to office yesterday.
The Office of the Prime Minister said acting Prime Minister Sam Abal “will remain acting until further notice”.
Government sources said Sir Michael was still in Singapore where he would undergo an operation tomorrow.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Lands Department denies selling land
By JUNIOR UKAHA
THE Lands Department has refuted claims the land on which the iconic First House of Assembly building stands has been sold to a foreign developer, The National reports.
Lands acting secretary Romily Kila Pat said the report in The National yesterday was misleading “as the land in question was never sold, but leased, to the Lamana Development Group by the state to build a replica of the historical first House of Assembly”.
Details of the lease agreement remained unclear but Pat said the place would be turned into a “tourist attraction and not a hotel” as claimed by David Western Construction manager David Kini.
How much the project was worth remained unclear as well.
Pat said the developer was allowed to develop the area under a “special public-private partnership arrangement”.
He said the government had no money to improve the place and decided to relinquish it to the Lamana Development Group to develop on its behalf.
Pat said the land on which the first House of Assembly stood consisted of two separate plots, hence, under the arrangement, the developer would develop the site using its own resources and, after completion of the job, would take as its reward a portion of the land in the block.
Pat said the arrangement with the developer was made a couple of years ago and the then governor-general (Sir Paulias Matane) was fully informed of and approved the deal.
National Museum and Arts Gallery acting director Dr Andrew Moutu, whose organisation was the custodian of the property before its acquisition by the developer, said yesterday The National report was “partly true and partly incorrect”.
He would not elaborate, saying many factors were involved.
A planned interview with him failed as his phone was switched off.
Attempts to get comments from the developer yesterday were unsuccessful.
THE Lands Department has refuted claims the land on which the iconic First House of Assembly building stands has been sold to a foreign developer, The National reports.
Lands acting secretary Romily Kila Pat said the report in The National yesterday was misleading “as the land in question was never sold, but leased, to the Lamana Development Group by the state to build a replica of the historical first House of Assembly”.
Details of the lease agreement remained unclear but Pat said the place would be turned into a “tourist attraction and not a hotel” as claimed by David Western Construction manager David Kini.
How much the project was worth remained unclear as well.
Pat said the developer was allowed to develop the area under a “special public-private partnership arrangement”.
He said the government had no money to improve the place and decided to relinquish it to the Lamana Development Group to develop on its behalf.
Pat said the land on which the first House of Assembly stood consisted of two separate plots, hence, under the arrangement, the developer would develop the site using its own resources and, after completion of the job, would take as its reward a portion of the land in the block.
Pat said the arrangement with the developer was made a couple of years ago and the then governor-general (Sir Paulias Matane) was fully informed of and approved the deal.
National Museum and Arts Gallery acting director Dr Andrew Moutu, whose organisation was the custodian of the property before its acquisition by the developer, said yesterday The National report was “partly true and partly incorrect”.
He would not elaborate, saying many factors were involved.
A planned interview with him failed as his phone was switched off.
Attempts to get comments from the developer yesterday were unsuccessful.
Chinese killed fighting rapists
By ZACHERY PER
THE Chinese national killed in Goroka over the weekend fired shots to disperse thugs raping his female passengers and looting his vehicle, Goroka police said yesterday, The National reports.
Initial police investigations showed the man, his friend and two females were struggling to push their mini-dyna truck out of the drain, after it went off the road, when opportunists and thugs converged on them.
The thugs raped the female passengers, robbed them of cash, mobile phones and other valuable items, Eastern Highlands provincial police commander Supt Augustine Wampe said.
He said Alex Seng Da then fired the shot from his pistol that hit a youth in the crowd, which then turned and killed him instantly.
“The pistol used in the incident remains missing but police are aware of who is in possession of it, so arrests will be made soon,” he said.
Wampe said investigations were still going on with reliable information coming in as a result of good cooperation from Asariufa community leaders.
William Morea, a youth from Sinasina, Chimbu, was shot dead by the Chinese man.
In retaliation, relatives killed him on the spot.
The deaths occurred at around 8pm last Saturday at the Asariufa section of the Highlands Highway.
Police stepped up operations not only in Goroka but in the neighbouring Kainantu town to contain opportunists who may try to loot shops.
The Seng Da chain of supermarkets and other Asian business outlets in Goroka remained closed yesterday.
THE Chinese national killed in Goroka over the weekend fired shots to disperse thugs raping his female passengers and looting his vehicle, Goroka police said yesterday, The National reports.
Initial police investigations showed the man, his friend and two females were struggling to push their mini-dyna truck out of the drain, after it went off the road, when opportunists and thugs converged on them.
The thugs raped the female passengers, robbed them of cash, mobile phones and other valuable items, Eastern Highlands provincial police commander Supt Augustine Wampe said.
He said Alex Seng Da then fired the shot from his pistol that hit a youth in the crowd, which then turned and killed him instantly.
“The pistol used in the incident remains missing but police are aware of who is in possession of it, so arrests will be made soon,” he said.
Wampe said investigations were still going on with reliable information coming in as a result of good cooperation from Asariufa community leaders.
William Morea, a youth from Sinasina, Chimbu, was shot dead by the Chinese man.
In retaliation, relatives killed him on the spot.
The deaths occurred at around 8pm last Saturday at the Asariufa section of the Highlands Highway.
Police stepped up operations not only in Goroka but in the neighbouring Kainantu town to contain opportunists who may try to loot shops.
The Seng Da chain of supermarkets and other Asian business outlets in Goroka remained closed yesterday.
Chinese killed fighting rapists
By ZACHERY PER
THE Chinese national killed in Goroka over the weekend fired shots to disperse thugs raping his female passengers and looting his vehicle, Goroka police said yesterday, The National reports.
Initial police investigations showed the man, his friend and two females were struggling to push their mini-dyna truck out of the drain, after it went off the road, when opportunists and thugs converged on them.
The thugs raped the female passengers, robbed them of cash, mobile phones and other valuable items, Eastern Highlands provincial police commander Supt Augustine Wampe said.
He said Alex Seng Da then fired the shot from his pistol that hit a youth in the crowd, which then turned and killed him instantly.
“The pistol used in the incident remains missing but police are aware of who is in possession of it, so arrests will be made soon,” he said.
Wampe said investigations were still going on with reliable information coming in as a result of good cooperation from Asariufa community leaders.
William Morea, a youth from Sinasina, Chimbu, was shot dead by the Chinese man.
In retaliation, relatives killed him on the spot.
The deaths occurred at around 8pm last Saturday at the Asariufa section of the Highlands Highway.
Police stepped up operations not only in Goroka but in the neighbouring Kainantu town to contain opportunists who may try to loot shops.
The Seng Da chain of supermarkets and other Asian business outlets in Goroka remained closed yesterday.
THE Chinese national killed in Goroka over the weekend fired shots to disperse thugs raping his female passengers and looting his vehicle, Goroka police said yesterday, The National reports.
Initial police investigations showed the man, his friend and two females were struggling to push their mini-dyna truck out of the drain, after it went off the road, when opportunists and thugs converged on them.
The thugs raped the female passengers, robbed them of cash, mobile phones and other valuable items, Eastern Highlands provincial police commander Supt Augustine Wampe said.
He said Alex Seng Da then fired the shot from his pistol that hit a youth in the crowd, which then turned and killed him instantly.
“The pistol used in the incident remains missing but police are aware of who is in possession of it, so arrests will be made soon,” he said.
Wampe said investigations were still going on with reliable information coming in as a result of good cooperation from Asariufa community leaders.
William Morea, a youth from Sinasina, Chimbu, was shot dead by the Chinese man.
In retaliation, relatives killed him on the spot.
The deaths occurred at around 8pm last Saturday at the Asariufa section of the Highlands Highway.
Police stepped up operations not only in Goroka but in the neighbouring Kainantu town to contain opportunists who may try to loot shops.
The Seng Da chain of supermarkets and other Asian business outlets in Goroka remained closed yesterday.
Monday, April 18, 2011
Pact with European Union will boost tuna industry
A EUROPEAN Union (EU) economic partnership agreement (EPA) is major boost for the Papua New Guinea fishing industry, Fisheries Minister Ben Semri said, The National reports.
Semri said the agreement would benefit the country through direct foreign investment, employment and poverty alleviation.
The EPA between the two parties was signed in 2009.
The agreement provided access for PNG canned tuna into European markets without any import duties.
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Trade and Immigration Don Polye thanked the EU delegation who supported PNG to secure global sourcing for fisheries exports into EU market.
He said the government was taking measures to ratify the deal quickly so it could implement the provisions in the agreement.
Polye said this at the first meeting of the trade committee under the EPA with EU representatives in Port Moresby last Friday.
Polye said local canned tuna could be found on European markets at a competitive price be¬cause it enjoyed no import duty.
He encouraged other Pacific Islands to sign EPAs with EU to enjoy similar benefits.
Polye encouraged local fishermen and women to embrace fishing as the agreement had added va¬lue to fisheries.
Semri thanked the European countries that voted 80% in favour of allowing direct export of PNG canned tuna to European shores.
EU Trade Commissioner Peter Thompson said both parties agreed with the EPA PNG could inspire other Pacific nations to join the agreement.
“The EU remains committed not only to supporting PNG in implementing the agreement, but to strengthen it further by deepening its coverage – to include provisions on development, services, investment and sustainable management of fishery resources – and widening its membership to other Pacific Island Countries,” Thompson said.
Polye said PNG could become the tuna capital of the world should all go well in the agreement.
He said that the EPA added value to PNG’s as¬pirations which other Pa¬ci¬fic island counties could benefit from as well.
“To make PNG the tuna capital, we must grasp the opportunity available and take ownership of the development,” Polye said.
He stressed the EPA would promote other spin-off businesses outside the fisheries industry.
“Most important of all is the engagement of women and youth in this business, women and children being significant component of our population,” Polye said,
Semri said: “The beauty of it is that huge revenue associated with the tuna market where no duty or taxes will be charged on every tonne of tuna lands on EU market”.
“Not only our tuna is very competitive in the EU markets and that will greatly benefit our economy,” he added.
Meanwhile, the two-day African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) review seminar meeting will start at Lamana Hotel today.
The EPA between EU and ACP countries is aimed at promoting trade between the two groups through trade development, sustainable growth and poverty reduction.
EPA set out to help ACP countries integrate into the world economy and share in the opportunities offered by globalisation.
Pasquarelli decries loss of House of Assembly
By MALUM NALU
A former member of the first House of The House of Assembly in 1964 has decried the selling its selling to Lamana Development Group to be turned into a hotel.
John Pasquarelli, MP for Angoram Open Electorate from 1964-1968, said today that building should have been preserved because of its historical significance.
He said, however, that the history of the first House of Assembly should be reflected in the new building.
“The site is, of course, very prominent in the Moresby CBD and to be honest it has no outstanding architectural features that would warrant preserving it,” Pasquarelli said.
“But it is the birthplace of PNG's democracy and the new building to be erected must feature clearly that history.
“I don't know about the new building being a replica of the old - I would have to see an architect's model first and the design, I assume, would be debated by the government and the people.
“The entrance foyer and environs would be the obvious place to illustrate the history of the site and, at the risk of appearing vain, maybe a plaque detailing the names of the members of that first House Of Assembly should be included in any recognition.”
A former member of the first House of The House of Assembly in 1964 has decried the selling its selling to Lamana Development Group to be turned into a hotel.
 |
| An Australian newspaper cutting from 1964 show from left John Pasquarelli, Simogen Peter, Sinake Giregire and Graham Pople. |
He said, however, that the history of the first House of Assembly should be reflected in the new building.
“The site is, of course, very prominent in the Moresby CBD and to be honest it has no outstanding architectural features that would warrant preserving it,” Pasquarelli said.
 |
Opening of the first House of Assembly in June 1964.
|
“I don't know about the new building being a replica of the old - I would have to see an architect's model first and the design, I assume, would be debated by the government and the people.
 |
Members of the first House of Assembly in 1964.
|
Joe Leahy's Neighbours: A parable for mordern-day Papua New Guinea
By MALUM NALU
Joe Leahy shot to fame as the star of internationally-acclaimed movies, Joe Leahy’s Neighbours and its sequel Black Harvest, which have also been widely shown on local television.
Today, at age 72 but still sprightly as ever since the filming of Joe Leahy’s Neighbours and Black Harvest in the 1980s, Leahy is desperately looking for money to revive his rundown Kilma coffee plantation in the Nebilyer Valley of Western Highlands province.
I met him in Goroka, Eastern Highlands, on Tuesday, April 12, when he and other Western Highlands coffee growers had travelled there for the launch of the World Bank-funded coffee project, and we got into a lively conversation.
If Joe Leahy’s story is a parable for modern-day Papua New Guinea, more so our coffee growers and those living in the highlands, perhaps everyone takes his own meaning from it and reads his own life into it.
Having watched both movies several times, unrehearsed documentaries which can make you laugh one moment and drive you to tears the next, I was keen to know how Leahy’s coffee business had prospered since.
Joe Leahy’s Neighbours traces the fortunes of Joe Leahy, the mixed-race son of Australian explorer Michael Leahy, in his uneasy relationship with his tribal neighbors.
He built his coffee plantation on land bought from the Ganiga tribe in the mid 1970s.
European-educated, raised in the highlands, freed by his mixed race from the entanglements of tribal obligation, Leahy leads a Western lifestyle governed by individualism and the pursuit of affluence.
While Leahy may live in Western grandeur, he is still surrounded by his subsistence-level Ganiga "neighbors," who never let him forget the original source of his prosperity.
He spends much of his waking hours just keeping the lid on things.
Australian filmmakers Bob Connolly and Robin Anderson lived for 18 continuous months in 1985 and 1986 on the edge of his plantation, in the "no man's land" between Leahy and the Ganiga.
Their lively, non-judgmental narrative eloquently captures the conflicting values of tribalism and capitalism.
Black Harvest, the final film shot in 1989, charts the progress of Leahy in convincing the Ganiga tribespeople to join him in a coffee-growing venture.
He provides the money and the expertise; they supply the land and labor.
But on the eve of success, world coffee price collapses and tribal warfare erupts in the valley, as the Ganigas team up with the Ulgas to fight the Kulgas.
Always suspect because of his mixed-race status, Leahy is in deep trouble with the tribespeople when his promises of riches fail to materialise.
As he organises to emigrate with his family to Australia, he is a saddened man with an uncertain future.
So much has happened since then, Leahy remaining in his beloved Western Highlands – the Promised Land discovered by his father and uncles in the 1930s and eloquently captured in First Contact – while his Central province wife and children have settled permanently in Australia.
‘The plantation (Kilma), since the movies were shot in the 1980s, has closed, that’s why I’m in Goroka,” Leahy tells me.
“I’ve been trying to get money from the NADP (national agriculture development plan) to revive the plantation; however, all that money has been siphoned elsewhere.
“The plantation has all gone bush.
"I’m still living there.
“I applied for NADP funding but I got nothing, so I’m here to see if the World Bank can help us.
“The government has the ideas in place; however, it is the implementing agencies that are not making it happen
“What I’m doing now is looking for cash to revive the plantation.”
Such was the intensity of the fighting between the Ulgas and the Kulgas in the Nebilyer Valley that it continued unabated, for more than 10 years, claiming countless lives.
"Everything’s been destroyed,” Leahy tells me.
“The infrastructure, everything’s there, and all I need is the money and things will be back again.
“Before the fighting erupted, the plantation was fully operational.
“We borrowed money from the PNGBC (PNG Banking Corporation) and were paying it off.
“Then the fighting broke out and we were in debt with the PNGBC
“I started the plantation in the 1970s.
“In 1975/1976, the plantation was in full production.
“The fighting started in the 1980s and continued for more than 10 years.
“Now is the time to pump money into rural areas so that people can look after themselves.”
After the daylight robbery of the NADP by the infamous “paper farmers” of Waigani, Leahy, and coffee growers in the highlands, see the World Bank project as manna from heaven.
“The World Bank project is a blessing from heaven,” he says.
“The system is there but the people who are there should make it work.
“Bureaucrats live if a dream world.
“They are not looking at reality.”
A look of sadness appears on Leahy’s face as he talks about Kilma plantation, his wife, and seven children, two girls and five boys.
“The plantation’s not operational,” he tells me.
“It’s all bush now.
“Thieves are going there, stealing.
“I just live on the place and do bits and pieces.
“What we need is money and law-and-order.
“My children have all left and are looking after themselves.
“They’re all married and have got kids.
“During the fighting, my wife asked me to leave.
“I said I will never leave this place.
“She’s in Australia with the kids.”
Leahy says the warring tribes now realise the economic development’s they’ve missed out on for all these years because of tribal fighting.
“They accused me of stealing their money and their land,” he adds, forlornly.
“Now they look back and see that they’ve done wrong.
“They’re living a miserable life."
Joe Leahy shot to fame as the star of internationally-acclaimed movies, Joe Leahy’s Neighbours and its sequel Black Harvest, which have also been widely shown on local television.
 |
Joe Leahy manages a smile amidst all his problems.-Pictures by MALUM NALU
|
 |
| At age 72, and fit as ever, is Joe Leahy in boots, jeans, jacket and hat. |
 |
| A perennial coffee farmer…Joe Leahy (fourth from right, backrow) with other Western Highlands coffee growers in Goroka. |
Having watched both movies several times, unrehearsed documentaries which can make you laugh one moment and drive you to tears the next, I was keen to know how Leahy’s coffee business had prospered since.
Joe Leahy’s Neighbours traces the fortunes of Joe Leahy, the mixed-race son of Australian explorer Michael Leahy, in his uneasy relationship with his tribal neighbors.
He built his coffee plantation on land bought from the Ganiga tribe in the mid 1970s.
European-educated, raised in the highlands, freed by his mixed race from the entanglements of tribal obligation, Leahy leads a Western lifestyle governed by individualism and the pursuit of affluence.
While Leahy may live in Western grandeur, he is still surrounded by his subsistence-level Ganiga "neighbors," who never let him forget the original source of his prosperity.
He spends much of his waking hours just keeping the lid on things.
Australian filmmakers Bob Connolly and Robin Anderson lived for 18 continuous months in 1985 and 1986 on the edge of his plantation, in the "no man's land" between Leahy and the Ganiga.
Their lively, non-judgmental narrative eloquently captures the conflicting values of tribalism and capitalism.
Black Harvest, the final film shot in 1989, charts the progress of Leahy in convincing the Ganiga tribespeople to join him in a coffee-growing venture.
He provides the money and the expertise; they supply the land and labor.
But on the eve of success, world coffee price collapses and tribal warfare erupts in the valley, as the Ganigas team up with the Ulgas to fight the Kulgas.
Always suspect because of his mixed-race status, Leahy is in deep trouble with the tribespeople when his promises of riches fail to materialise.
As he organises to emigrate with his family to Australia, he is a saddened man with an uncertain future.
So much has happened since then, Leahy remaining in his beloved Western Highlands – the Promised Land discovered by his father and uncles in the 1930s and eloquently captured in First Contact – while his Central province wife and children have settled permanently in Australia.
‘The plantation (Kilma), since the movies were shot in the 1980s, has closed, that’s why I’m in Goroka,” Leahy tells me.
“I’ve been trying to get money from the NADP (national agriculture development plan) to revive the plantation; however, all that money has been siphoned elsewhere.
“The plantation has all gone bush.
"I’m still living there.
“I applied for NADP funding but I got nothing, so I’m here to see if the World Bank can help us.
“The government has the ideas in place; however, it is the implementing agencies that are not making it happen
“What I’m doing now is looking for cash to revive the plantation.”
Such was the intensity of the fighting between the Ulgas and the Kulgas in the Nebilyer Valley that it continued unabated, for more than 10 years, claiming countless lives.
"Everything’s been destroyed,” Leahy tells me.
“The infrastructure, everything’s there, and all I need is the money and things will be back again.
“Before the fighting erupted, the plantation was fully operational.
“We borrowed money from the PNGBC (PNG Banking Corporation) and were paying it off.
“Then the fighting broke out and we were in debt with the PNGBC
“I started the plantation in the 1970s.
“In 1975/1976, the plantation was in full production.
“The fighting started in the 1980s and continued for more than 10 years.
“Now is the time to pump money into rural areas so that people can look after themselves.”
After the daylight robbery of the NADP by the infamous “paper farmers” of Waigani, Leahy, and coffee growers in the highlands, see the World Bank project as manna from heaven.
“The World Bank project is a blessing from heaven,” he says.
“The system is there but the people who are there should make it work.
“Bureaucrats live if a dream world.
“They are not looking at reality.”
A look of sadness appears on Leahy’s face as he talks about Kilma plantation, his wife, and seven children, two girls and five boys.
“The plantation’s not operational,” he tells me.
“It’s all bush now.
“Thieves are going there, stealing.
“I just live on the place and do bits and pieces.
“What we need is money and law-and-order.
“My children have all left and are looking after themselves.
“They’re all married and have got kids.
“During the fighting, my wife asked me to leave.
“I said I will never leave this place.
“She’s in Australia with the kids.”
Leahy says the warring tribes now realise the economic development’s they’ve missed out on for all these years because of tribal fighting.
“They accused me of stealing their money and their land,” he adds, forlornly.
“Now they look back and see that they’ve done wrong.
“They’re living a miserable life."
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